Allo Darlin’ – Europe

Around this time two years ago, I wrote that Allo Darlin’s debut was an enjoyably twee affair with an over-dependence on lyrical exposition and a tendency to float off into the ether like a crying child’s balloon.

Obviously they’ve taken my advice on board (who wouldn’t?), and as a result their second album, Europe, gets things just about spot on. Sonically its got more back bone, a stronger production that rounds off the songs nicely and pushes them further into pop territory. Lyrically the album is stronger too, less rambling and more focused on telling it’s stories, such as on the gorgeous Tallulah. Europe then is exactly the sort of second album you’d hope for from a band like Allo Darlin’.